Rowland Brothers 150 years

Veteran Stories – Rowland Brothers Funeral Directors

Veteran Stories – Ruaraidh O’Stiubhart

Ruaraidh (Rory) O'Stiubhart was in the Royal Army Medical Corps service number 22812296. We completed his pre-paid funeral plan in 2016,  and our funeral directors remember him well. Rory was blind when we met him with his carer at his flat in Thornton Heath. As a veteran of the Armed Forces, he requested military honours [...]

2022-10-27T12:22:07+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Ruaraidh O’Stiubhart

Veteran Stories – Robert Gandy

Robert Gandy joined the military to serve his National Service. He joined the elite Parachute Regiment (3 Para). Most people in the National Service never did much,  however Robert gained his Jump wings which are hard fought for. During his basic training he won best recruit “The Browning Award” and this was awarded to him [...]

2022-10-27T12:31:57+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Robert Gandy

Veteran Stories – John Wilson

John (Jack) (Tug) Wilson was in the Guards Parachute regiment. Tug served in the Irish Guards and then in the 1st (Guards) Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment. He served at the same time as his son in the same regiment. They can both be seen in the two pictures of the Company. Tug had served [...]

2022-10-27T12:32:22+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – John Wilson

Veteran Stories – James Smith

HMS Fearless James Smith was a veteran of The Royal Navy. With approximate dates, this is his navy service on board ships: Completed training at HMS Ganges – 1961 (Naval training base) HMS Vincent (Naval Training) HMS Agincourt (Battle class destroyer) HMS Grenville – 1968 (Type 15 frigate) HMS Sheraton 1970 (Minehunter) HMS Blake - [...]

2022-10-27T12:29:06+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – James Smith

Veteran Stories – Cpl James (Jim) Carpenter

Cpl James (Jim) Carpenter joined the Army at the young age of 16 in 1955 ( Service number 23503886). He was first with the East Surrey Regiment and then the Paras, where he served with 3 of his brothers. He was then selected for the 21 SAS and was stationed at the Chelsea Barracks, Duke [...]

2022-10-27T12:30:19+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Cpl James (Jim) Carpenter

Veteran Stories – Eileen Bascombe

Eileen Bascombe was a leading Aircraftswoman in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF), she was in the Air Force during the second world war. Eileen base was Chicksands Priory this was her station Z, her roll was a communications officer working at the famous Bletchley Park listening for codes and then passing them onto the [...]

2022-10-27T12:28:27+00:00October 14th, 2022|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Eileen Bascombe

Veteran Stories – Lt Colonel Kenneth Frederick Travers

  Lt Colonel Kenneth Frederick Travers I think one of the highest ranking veterans to pass through our care. He was called up for national service in 1950. He joined The Royal Artillery. He qualified for officer training. He was trained and manned the 40mm and 3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns. At the end of his [...]

2021-10-14T08:47:13+00:00October 14th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Lt Colonel Kenneth Frederick Travers

Veteran Stories – Charles

Charles, who was a Sargent in the Royal Artillery Charles passed at 101 years old. He served in The Royal Artillery in the second World War. Charles fought in the Battle of Normandy Beach on D Day, Arnhem and into Germany. The Union Flag was draped over his coffin, The Royal Artillery Association Standard Bearer [...]

2021-10-14T08:44:16+00:00October 14th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Charles

Veteran Stories – Cyril Songhurst

  Cyril Songhurst Service number: 23466288 Cyril went into the boy’s service, General service corps until 22.10.57 where he joined the Royal Armoured Corps, he wanted to be a dog handler and an opportunity arose with the Royal Military Police. He joined the RMP 2 Division 1.4.1959 he served in the riots on Hong Kong [...]

2021-10-14T08:42:58+00:00October 14th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Cyril Songhurst

Veteran Stories – John Soggee

John Soggee is a twice veteran. He served in the armed forces in the parachute Regiment and after joined the Metropolitan Police Service. We were able to honour both of his service careers with the Metropolitan Police coffin drape on his coffin throughout the cortege and at the church service and upon arrival at the [...]

2021-04-09T14:20:25+00:00March 5th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – John Soggee

Veteran Stories – William (Bill) Wheeler

William (Bill) Wheeler Royal Navy World War Two by his loving daughter Sandra William Wheeler, known by all as Bill, who was born in Thornton Heath, has sadly passed away at the grand age of 96. He trained before the war as an engineer tool maker so these skills were able to be transferred when [...]

2021-04-09T15:03:39+00:00March 5th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – William (Bill) Wheeler

Veteran Stories – Lesley Albert Bates

Lesley Albert Bates, Royal Navy, World war Two Les was commissioned during the war in the arctic convoys and d day landings. He was on a survivor/coffin ship in the arctic picking up survivors and bodies from the sea. He received the arctic star medal and the Russian Ushakov medal from the Russian government to [...]

2021-04-09T14:02:55+00:00March 5th, 2021|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Lesley Albert Bates

Veteran Stories – Antoinette Chambeyron

The Honorary President of the Association des Auvergnats de Grande-Bretagne as well as the Federation of French Associations in Great Britain, Antoinette Chambeyron is an emblematic figure of the French community in London. Daughter of Anne Dunne, British artist born in Liverpool, and Georges Chambeyron, member of the famous juggling troupe "The Mongadors", Antoinette could [...]

2020-11-05T10:31:06+00:00November 3rd, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Antoinette Chambeyron

Veteran Stories – Charles

Charles served in the Second World War as a blacksmith in the Royal Air Force working on aircraft repairs. He started at Pembroke in Wales working on flying boats and witnessed a very heavy bombing raid from the Germans causing mass casualties. He was then posted to RAF Kenley and Biggin Hill to work on [...]

2021-04-09T13:38:11+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Charles

Veteran Stories – Edward

At St Christopher’s church was the funeral of ex Flt Sgt Edward McRae aged 93 a veteran of 50 Squadron RAF Bomber Command he volunteered in 1944 he was the mid upper gunner in a Lancaster he completed 19 missions over Europe. Crash report from the War Office 1945: BOMBER COMMAND Ferry flight in connection [...]

2021-04-09T14:40:22+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Edward

Veteran Stories – Jones

Jones was a 6-year veteran of the RCT and RLC. Vivian was a Lieutenant and is a veteran of the first Gulf War in 1991. He passed at the age of 56 with no family and no friends. The military preparation college of training carried the coffin, 3 standard bears were in attendance, Royal British [...]

2021-04-09T14:19:23+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Jones

Veteran Stories – Raymond (Razor) Kinder

Raymond kinder was 3 months short of reaching 101 years old when he passed away. Raymond “Razor” Kinder was in the army before the outbreak of World War 2 and he was in India in the Wiltshire Regiment. Upon the outbreak of war he was sent to Belgium and was part of the British Expeditionary [...]

2021-04-09T14:01:16+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Raymond (Razor) Kinder

Veteran Stories – Herbert Smith

Herbert was a Normandy veteran. Herbert joined the Territorial Army before the war and was conscripted in 1939. He was initially sent to Scotland and then was waiting for the big day, 6th June 1944. Herbert’s landing ship had mechanical problems so he was delayed with his troop and set foot on French sand two [...]

2021-04-09T14:21:00+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Herbert Smith

Veteran Stories – Len Rowe

Len's war years - As told by his daughter 23.09.1940 to 26.08.1941 During the London Blitz Len served with the 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. 313 AA Battery stationed at Hyde Park Corner together with gunners on the Ack Ack guns shooting down enemy aircraft. He told me “how he gave the order to fire [...]

2021-04-09T14:04:28+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Len Rowe

Veteran Stories – Clive Knowles

We conducted a funeral for Clive Knowles a veteran of The Royal Fusiliers. This was a social services funeral and at the funeral only 6 people were in attendance. There were three Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion. In their own words when I thanked them “It’s no more than they deserve mate you [...]

2021-04-09T13:37:41+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Clive Knowles

Veteran Stories – Steven Wilson Undy

Stephen served in the Royal Engineers from 04/07/1951 as career soldier and he served in the Korean War and Japan. Stephen was demobbed 01/01/1957. After he left the regular Army he was a reservist and was called up to serve again during the Suez Crisis in 1959. He finally left the reserves in 03/07/67 and [...]

2021-04-09T15:04:48+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Steven Wilson Undy

Veteran Stories – Tony Pacitti

Tony was captured in Singapore along with many thousands of his comrades. He was marched through the Far East working on both the Burma Railway and the Bridge in the Kwai. He ended up being taken to prisoner of war camps in Japan where he was brutally treated. He was deafened in one ear from [...]

2021-04-09T15:04:23+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Tony Pacitti

Veteran Stories – Desmond Warner

At the outbreak of WW2 Des lied about his age and joined the Home Guard at 13 years old. He became a Sergeant by 15 and was mentioned in dispatches for rescuing people from a bombed building. When he was old enough he joined the Reconnaissance Regiment who were tasked to go to the front [...]

2021-04-12T13:33:30+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Desmond Warner

Veteran Stories – Edward (Ron) Jackson

We conducted the funeral of Ron. He was a veteran of the Royal Navy having been posted to two mine sweepers in the English channel, a frigate and the most notable posting was on HMS Belfast. Not many veterans can say they have served on the Belfast. He was on board when the first salvo [...]

2021-04-09T14:41:18+00:00October 21st, 2020|News, Veteran Stories|Comments Off on Veteran Stories – Edward (Ron) Jackson
Go to Top